Arch support



July 9, 1940. Q B sH R D N 2,207,271

ARCH SUPPORT Filed March 4, 1940 INVENTOR.

BY 6/: a r/es Sher/clan Patented July 9, 1940 ARCH SUPPORT Charles B. Sheridan, Rochester, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Joseph H. Stiflier, Rochester,

Application March 4, 1940, Serial No. 322,095

2 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved arch supporting device adapted to be placed in a shoe and used to support the arch of the foot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe with an arch support in it which aligns itself to the foot and permits free movement of the foot while supporting the arch portion of the foot.

These and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in the drawing, described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a shoe for the left foot, partly broken away, showing the arch supporting device in section, the arch supporting device being shown in its lowest position.

Figure 2 shows a portion of Figure 1, with the arch supporting device in its raised position.

Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the plates 7 used in connection with the arch supporting device just as they would appear in the shoe, the shoe being omitted.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail View of one of 1the adjustable supporting devices partly in secion.

Figure 5 shows the same supporting device shown in Figure 4, with theplate lifted and tilted to accommodate itself to some particular position of the foot. V

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the flexible connection between the stud and the plate.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of Figure 6.

In the drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawing reference numeral I indicates the shank of the shoe, comprising a layer of leather 2 forming part of the sole, and a steel plate 3 which is made into the shoe. On top of the shank is a layer of leather 4, which is cut away as indicated at 5 and 6 to permit the studs 1 to pass therethrough. In the metal plate 3 is threaded a collet 8, which collet is ordinarily stationary. In this collet is the threaded stud l, which has a slotted end 9 adapted to receive the end of a screwdriver by which it may be turned for the purpose of raising or lowering it. On the upper end of this stud is a head [0 which has a spherical bearing surface on the top thereof. Loosely surrounding this head is a block II which is fastened to the plates l2 and I3 in any suitable manner, as by soldering, brazing, or welding. This block has a large recess therein in which the head of the stud can gyrate through an angle of about 40 degrees but too small to allow the head to pass through it. On the lower edge the block has a flange surrounding this head which holds the head of the stud in place therein. The stud is first placed in the block from above, and the top of the block is then fastened under the plate l2 or l3. The collet 8 is threaded into the shank 3 and the stud l is turned into engagement with the collet 8.

With the parts assembled in this way, the plates I2 and It can be raised or lowered by turning the studs 1, and they are supported by the studs at any desired elevation. While supported at the desired elevation, the'plates and 13 can tilt to conform to the, natural position of the foot. The plate I2 will swing around the forward edge It, and the plate it will swingaround the rear edge 15, it being understood that the studs will be adjusted so that the adjacent edges of the plates will stand close together. Over these plates .will be placed a piece of leather l6.

With the parts thus assembled the shoe will be put on the foot and laced tightly, and the studs will be adjusted until the plates 82 and it give the desired support to the arch of the foot.

A spring ll is used to surround the stud and bears against the steel plate 3 at the bottom and against the block it at the top, helping to hold them apart and in the proper relative position.

I claim:

1. In an arch support, the combination of the metal shank of a shoe, a collet threaded therein from the bottom, a plate adapted to support the arch of a foot, a block fastened to the under side of said plate and having a cup-shaped recess in the top thereof and a hole in the bottom thereof, a stud having a large head loosely swiveled in said block, said stud extending down from the block and having a threaded engagement with said collet, the head of said stud loosely engaging and supporting said plate from the collet and being adjustable from the collet, said plate being permitted to gyrate on the stud to proper position to support the arch. I

2. In an arch support, the combination of the metal shank of a shoe, two collets threaded therein from the bottom, plates adapted to support the arch of a foot, a block fastened to the under side of each of said plates and having cup-shaped recesses in the top-thereof and holes in the bottom thereof, a stud having a large head loosely swiveled in each of said blocks, said studs extending down from the blocks and having a threaded engagement with said collets, the heads of said studs loosely engaging and supporting said plates-from the collets and being adjustable from the collets, said plates being permitted to gyrate on the stud to proper position to support the arch, said plates being placed forward and back of each other with edges almost in abutment.

CHARLES B. SHERIDAN. 

